Putting a music system into my K75RT

[Jonico]

I've got a "frankenbike" build of a K75C that someone's put an RT fairing on (the fairing was for the modified RT version made for the Spanish Guardia Civil Traffic Police in the mid 1980s.
My bike doesn't have the walkie talkie police radio or siren or anything cool. I want to put in some speakers and an MP3 player for music-- I briefly had a K1200LT and really liked the music player.
So any recommendations on speakers (dimensions and wattage and connectors) and on MP3 USB-enabled players? What should I take care with before buying?

I'm a confessed clod at wrenching so go easy on my pea-brain.


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[K1300S]

Sena comms system in helmet with BT connection to your smart phone music.

[Scott_]

Another option with some of the Sena line is to cord connect your ipod/mp3 player and carry it in your jacket pocket.....works good for me.

[Filmcamera]

I use the Sena 20s and it is great, the only thing is I prefer to attach earbuds to the Sena because I find the speakers it comes with that fit in the helmet are a little underpowered

[Martin]

I download music into my $100.00 Au Chinese GPS, it transmits to my $5.00 AM FM transistor radio with earphones that I keep in my jacket. It also transmits directions but can only do music or directions not both.
Regards Martin.

[Laitch]

It also transmits directions but can only do music or directions not both.
Regards Martin.

Fit it with the Karaoke app, Martin, then it will sing the directions. They'll be in Mandarin but still, it's very soothing.

[Martin]

 :2thumbup: :hehehe  Thanks Laitch I'll get right on it, although I do prefer Cantonese.
Regards an already soothed Martin.

[Jonico]

I've got a Cardo Systems G9  and  speakers in my Shark helmet, works well for talking but with music, I can hardly make out the tune, it sounds so bad. But as I say, the system on the 1200LT rocked! Still, you're probably right-- cheapest bet is to upgrade the helmet speakers (and get a quieter helmet-- those Shark EVO line are noisy).


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[Martin]

I've tried a few different helmet speakers, and I have come to the conclusion earphones work better. A good fitting set cuts out noise and you can get good sound out of them for very little money. They can be a pain to keep in position when putting on my helmet.
Regards Martin.

[K1300S]

i have never found any earphones that actually do a good job of reducing noise.  i wear earplugs all the time to preserve what little hearing i have left.  have sena 10u setup in my gt-air helmet.  speakers sound fine, even at highway speeds....through earplugs.  i don't expect audiophile quality in a noisy MC environment.  just enough backdrop for dull stretches of asphalt.

[Martin]

If you are willing to front up the money you can get earphones individually molded to suit your ear canals fitted with high end drivers. A few companies do them. I would shop around and read all of reviews if I decided to go down that track.
Regards Martin.

[Jonico]

I used to use earphone before I bought the helmet speakers but they gave me a doozy of a headache from putting on and taking off my helmet, which is why I went the Scala Ride helmet speaker route. I paid closer attention yesterday and notice that my ears are a wee bit lower than the factory recesses in the helmet... I'll fiddle with that (how much do ya think an earlift costs?) and see if it helps.


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[Martin]

Probably cheaper and easier to just leave your ears where they are and lower your head.  :hehehe
Regards Martin.

[K1300S]

If you are willing to front up the money you can get earphones individually molded to suit your ear canals fitted with high end drivers. A few companies do them. I would shop around and read all of reviews if I decided to go down that track.
Regards Martin.

yes...that setup does work well.  not cheap, but works.   i have custom molded earbuds with mono drivers that i use in my race car helmet for noise abatement and the UHF comms setup for talking to pit crew and track spotters.  inside of race car MUCH louder than the brick...

[wmax351]

If you are willing to front up the money you can get earphones individually molded to suit your ear canals fitted with high end drivers. A few companies do them. I would shop around and read all of reviews if I decided to go down that track.
Regards Martin.

http://lifehacker.com/5787610/diy-custom-molded-in-ear-headphones


You can diy these for 20 bucks. Use either purpose made siloxane goo (you can buy it on amazon for custom earplugs https://www.amazon.com/Radians-Custom-Molded-Earplugs-Blue/dp/B003A28OW6/ ), dental putty , or sugru. I have a set I made, they work well. For motorcycle use, make sure to get a low profile on the protruding part: they will be uncomfortable if they are sticking out and catching on the helmet while putting it on. Also, get some of the ear lubricant to insert them comfortably and ensure a good seal. I think it's just KY jelly in a smaller container though.




I've used these as well. They work great. Though I found my ears get irritated with extended use of ear buds (while I was commuting), but my ears are also fairly small which contributes to that.
https://www.amazon.com/Plugfones-Executive-Earbuds-Silicone-Plugs/dp/B01MDTJW6N/

[Jonico]

All in all, earbuds are good for most people but I'm not fond of them myself, so I'm going back to my original idea of installing a sound system on the K75RT. The unit goes in one glove compartment, the speakers have their own recesses, right? I've never actually seen a K75 with the full setup, so I'm running blind here...


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[Laitch]

. . . so I'm going back to my original idea of installing a sound system on the K75RT.

We won't be tolerating any Wayne Newton at full volume when you roll through here, just so you know.

[The Mighty Gryphon]

Would a 55 gallon Givi top case have enough room for one of those ghetto-thumper sub-woofers?

[bocutter Ed]

Would a 55 gallon Givi top case have enough room for one of those ghetto-thumper sub-woofers?

Betcha I could build one ...

[The Mighty Gryphon]

Betcha I could build one ...

Oh, the huge manatee!!!

[Filmcamera]

I bet you could build great stereo speakers into side cases as well...  a couple of tweeters up by the bars, two amps under the seat and you are ready to rock

[Jonico]

We won't be tolerating any Wayne Newton at full volume when you roll through here, just so you know.

Fear not, Laitch. It'll be ABBA 24/7.


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[bocutter Ed]

ABBA = Yummy fish paste in a tube ABBA

[Laitch]

It'll be ABBA 24/7.

I'm surprised! I figured Newton or Hafdís Huld would be burning up those speakers. Maybe the top case skewed my assessment. That's profiling for you—more to it than meets the eye, apparently.

Maybe you were referring to the fish paste. From the photo of the woman and her kidnapping victim in the ad bocutter Ed supplied, it looks like it's a component of talking sandwiches, which would certainly serve to alleviate loneliness during those long rides.

Regardless, keep storming those battlements!

[Jonico]

ABBA = Yummy fish paste in a tube ABBA

They do a mean herring paste, you can get it at IKEA and it has a shelf life of about 325 years!


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